Airborne 12.09.16

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Airborne 12.09.16

Takes Flight at XworX

A Bell 407, converted to a flying demonstrator
aircraft for the U.S. Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter
program (ARH), flew for the first time Friday at the company's
XworX research and development facility at Arlington Municipal
Airport.

Bell Test Pilot Lynn Morgan and Flight Test Engineer Brian
Cassidy flew the Bell ARH Demonstrator on its first hop of 0.4
hours early in the morning. The ARH Demonstrator was flown three
times today for a total of 1.5 flight hours.

Friday's flight testing demonstrated rotor and power train
technology, handling qualities, structural dynamics and the FLIR
System. Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, is offering the Bell
ARH in the program to produce 368 new helicopters for the Army to
be delivered between fiscal years 2006-2011.

The Bell ARH is based on the highly successful commercial Bell
407. Over 600 Bell 407 helicopters are in service with over 1.2
million flight hours. The Army is expected to make a decision
on the ARH program within the next two months. The Bell ARH will be
completed at the company's Military Aircraft Assembly Center,
Amarillo, Texas.